Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway updates

[Northerngirl]

As someone who lives near Wrexham, I beg to differ, cheap Birmingham services would be very popular, and separately, Chiltern seems to do very well with their slower train to London, so I don't see how combining the two isn't a smart idea

 

[NorthWalian]

As someone who lives near Wrexham, I beg to differ, cheap Birmingham services would be very popular, and separately, Chiltern seems to do very well with their slower train to London, so I don't see how combining the two isn't a smart idea

Problem is threefold

1. Birmingham to London is slow on WMT + Chiltern and expensive on Avanti
2. TFW has services to Birmingham as is
3. Getting to Birmingham is also a slog

At this point, merging the Chester-Wrexham and Chester-Crewe shuttles and timing them with the WMT London services is the best bet and could probably get you a journey time faster than what WSMR is proposing anyway. Perhaps the Avanti coast services could stop at Shotton too and give a link that way, as it has to pass there anyway.

 

[DavidGrain]

Problem is threefold

1. Birmingham to London is slow on WMT + Chiltern and expensive on Avanti
2. TFW has services to Birmingham as is
3. Getting to Birmingham is also a slog

At this point, merging the Chester-Wrexham and Chester-Crewe shuttles and timing them with the WMT London services is the best bet and could probably get you a journey time faster than what WSMR is proposing anyway. Perhaps the Avanti coast services could stop at Shotton too and give a link that way, as it has to pass there anyway.

And using the Chiltern route means a walk between two Birmingham stations.

 

[NorthWalian]

And using the Chiltern route means a walk between two Birmingham stations.

WMT is frequent enough anyway for that not to really matter.

 

[The Mercian]

Problem is threefold

1. Birmingham to London is slow on WMT + Chiltern and expensive on Avanti
2. TFW has services to Birmingham as is
3. Getting to Birmingham is also a slog

At this point, merging the Chester-Wrexham and Chester-Crewe shuttles and timing them with the WMT London services is the best bet and could probably get you a journey time faster than what WSMR is proposing anyway. Perhaps the Avanti coast services could stop at Shotton too and give a link that way, as it has to pass there anyway.

I very much like that idea of Wrexham-Chester-Crewe. Didn’t someone mention on here that it’s being actively considered/in planning?

 

[craigybagel]

I very much like that idea of Wrexham-Chester-Crewe. Didn’t someone mention on here that it’s being actively considered/in planning?

It's being worked on. As far as I know the hope is for it to come in in May as part of the North Wales recast. The new hourly Chester - Wrexham shuttle that started this timetable is a part of that.

 

[NorthWalian]

I very much like that idea of Wrexham-Chester-Crewe. Didn’t someone mention on here that it’s being actively considered/in planning?

Apparently in the works for May. The current schedule is some sort of temporary plan until they can get the timings to work (probably to do with Avanti or the existing Wrexham - Chester - Holyhead services)

 

[Liverbird 1]

Does anyone on here know when NR is due to double-track the Wrexham - Chester line at all?
Thanks

 

[realaledrinker]

Does anyone on here know when NR is due to double-track the Wrexham - Chester line at all?
Thanks

Would involve a new bridge to replace the one on the A483, which was why the line was singled in the first place AIUI. So unlikely..

 

[rich.davies]

It's doubled from Chester as far as Rossett. Was due to be the entire length but the bridge over the A483 would have been way to expensive, so was scaled back.

 

[The Middle]

Something related? Return trip Wrexham to Euston in RTT for 2nd March.

Realtime Trains | 1Z71 0855 Wrexham General to London Euston | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 1Z71 0855 departure from Wrexham General to London Euston on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Zontar]

Something related? Return trip Wrexham to Euston in RTT for 2nd March.

Realtime Trains | 1Z71 0855 Wrexham General to London Euston | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 1Z71 0855 departure from Wrexham General to London Euston on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Who decides this needs to happen? Will ORR have asked for it, or are WSMR doing it to prove a point?

 

[Southern Dvr]

Something related? Return trip Wrexham to Euston in RTT for 2nd March.

Realtime Trains | 1Z71 0855 Wrexham General to London Euston | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 1Z71 0855 departure from Wrexham General to London Euston on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Could this not just be a charter?

 

[Zontar]

Could this not just be a charter?

5 hour + schedule. Could be possible

 

[The Planner]

Its a charter timing load as its 13 coaches trailing at 95mph.

 

[zwk500]

It's also got a GBRf Service Code.

 

[Corn]

The ECS originates at Derby Litchurch Lane as 5Z70 on the same morning, but there's also another 5Z70 on Saturday from Yarmouth CHS to Derby Litchurch Lane. This suggests it could be Eastern Rail Services stock?

Realtime Trains | 5Z70 1455 Yarmouth C.H.S. to Derby Litchurch Lane | 28/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z70 1455 departure from Yarmouth C.H.S. to Derby Litchurch Lane on 28/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[david1212]

5 hour + schedule.

From the RTT link the scheduled departure time from Nuneaton is 11:43 with Euston arrival at 14:21, that is 2h 37min later. The time via Northampton to pass Bletchley is 1h 6min. Included are two pathing stops of 14 min and 10 1/2 min. Added to these are the time to slow and accelerate.

There is also Avanti 1A27 scheduled to depart at 11:43 with Euston arrival at 12:41, 58min later. The time bypassing Northampton to pass Bletchley is 29 min.

Of course a loco timed at 95mph with load 13 can not achieve close to 58min for Nuneaton > Euston but with a clear path would 1h 30min be reasonable? Running through how much longer via Northampton, 10min?

 

[Zontar]

From the RTT link the scheduled departure time from Nuneaton is 11:43 with Euston arrival at 14:21, that is 2h 37min later. The time via Northampton to pass Bletchley is 1h 6min. Included are two pathing stops of 14 min and 10 1/2 min. Added to these are the time to slow and accelerate.

There is also Avanti 1A27 scheduled to depart at 11:43 with Euston arrival at 12:41, 58min later. The time bypassing Northampton to pass Bletchley is 29 min.

Of course a loco timed at 95mph with load 13 can not achieve close to 58min for Nuneaton > Euston but with a clear path would 1h 30min be reasonable? Running through how much longer via Northampton, 10min?

I've no idea what your point is.... but its still showing a 5 hour path from wrexham to london

 

[DavidGrain]

Not listed on the rail tours website but it is picking up passengers at several points which points to a rail tour

 

[pokemonsuper9]

There's nothing on either railtour calendar for that date.
Of course could be a private charter.

Although if anyone were to charter exactly that service, would it not be the company intending to use it?

 

[DavidGrain]

There's nothing on either railtour calendar for that date.
Of course could be a private charter.

Although if anyone were to charter exactly that service, would it not be the company intending to use it?

I doubt if they have the rolling stock available as any leasing agreements would be conditional on them getting the access rights. They certainly would not have the drivers and guards passed to operate the trains.

 

[NorthWalian]

Could this just be some sort of test run for crew/media along the way.

Maybe an MP or two as well

 

[Chippychips]

Something related? Return trip Wrexham to Euston in RTT for 2nd March.

Realtime Trains | 1Z71 0855 Wrexham General to London Euston | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 1Z71 0855 departure from Wrexham General to London Euston on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I believe it is indeed a WSMR thing according to this Facebook post.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HNy5FCNSm/

Some further information about the special WSMR promotional (www.wsmr.co.uk) train Wrexham to London Euston next Monday 2nd March. This train is definitely a WSMR train carrying invited business passengers from various Shropshire businesses who will be taking individual letters, which will be delivered to 10 Downing Street to support the campaign to get the direct rail service approved with hopefully backing from the DFT which may encourage the ORR to grant its open access application. The train is picking up the various business people at Wrexham/Gobowen/Shrewsbury/Wellington/Telford/Wolverhampton/Walsall/Nuneaton - it will be interesting to know which Wellington businesses are going to be on this train?

Here is a quick reminder of the times:

06-35 empty stock through Wellington (to Wrexham)

09-52 picking up invited businesses at Wellington pl 1

20-15 dropping off at Wellington pl 2

23-01 empty stock through Wellington (to Derby)

There should be quite a lot of publicity about this special train (which maybe a Voyager or top and tail 57s with mark 3/4 stock).

Also noted that Julia Buckley has also pushed for folks to sign a petition for WSMR to be approved recently too.

 

[The Planner]

So have they resolved the performance issues the previous applications have, or have they just sunk a load of cash into a PR stunt?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

5 hour + schedule.

It you caught the 0903 Wrexham-Chester and then the 0932 Chester-Euston, you would get to London by 1135.
That's 2h46m before the charter turns up, and less than half the journey time.

 

[cj_1985]

I doubt if they have the rolling stock available as any leasing agreements would be conditional on them getting the access rights. They certainly would not have the drivers and guards passed to operate the trains.

I thought they were being backed by Alstom, who are/were holding the 6x (?) remaining ex Avanti 221s... presumably if the application is rejected Alstom would release them back to Beacon, who in turn can lease them to Cross Country (if their offer is acceptable)

 

[Wyrleybart]

I thought they were being backed by Alstom, who are/were holding the 6x (?) remaining ex Avanti 221s... presumably if the application is rejected Alstom would release them back to Beacon, who in turn can lease them to Cross Country (if their offer is acceptable)

That is my understanding too.
14th March 2024 press release

Alstom plans to operate its own passenger train service in the UK for the first time

Alstom is partnering with SLC Rail to form a new open access rail operation between North Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and London

www.alstom.com

 

[RGM654]

A London Midland service stopping at all stations takes an hour from Bletchley to Euston. This special takes an hour and a half. Most of the difference is accounted for by pathing stops at Kings Langley and Willesden, but why can't it just toddle along between other trains on the slow line without stopping?

 

[The Planner]

A London Midland service stopping at all stations takes an hour from Bletchley to Euston. This special takes an hour and a half. Most of the difference is accounted for by pathing stops at Kings Langley and Willesden, but why can't it just toddle along between other trains on the slow line without stopping?

That is what its doing south of Nuneaton. Its looped as other trains catch it up and they have more rights than this charter does, hence you get it out the way.